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Article I - Name
This organization shall be known as the Network of Asia-Pacific Schools and Institutes of Public Administration and Governance or NAPSIPAG. NAPSIPAG is a network of schools and institutes of public administration located in the Asia-Pacific region.
Article II – Objectives
NAPSIPAG shall seek to enhance the quality of governance and public administration in the Asia-Pacific region by building the capacities of its national governments to promote good governance, through practical, relevant, and responsive training, education, and research.
NAPSIPAG shall accomplish the mission through the following objectives:
1.Strengthening member institutions by sponsoring activities that enhance the capacity of their members for the promotion of the highest standards of effective, transparent, and responsive governance
2.Encouraging improved professional competence by developing cutting-edge curriculum and by providing advanced training for those currently in the field
3.Promoting knowledge about good governance to the public, legislators, and the private sector by bringing together, under a broad umbrella, individuals concerned with educating current and future generations of students who will be responsible for managing the governments of the Asia-Pacific region;
4.Creating a professional identity and community by bringing together key people within a country or region to enhance their ability to achieve their principal professional goals and objectives.
5.Promoting professional standards and ethics by establishing canons of ethical behavior to guide faculty and practitioners, and encouraging the highest of ethical standards and responsibilities befitting those working in public service.
6.Promoting professional communication about good governance by supporting appropriate media to enable dissemination and discussion of new information and knowledge, including annual conferences, professional journals and other publications, and electronic media.
7.Promoting the discipline of public administration by carrying out campaigns to encourage individuals to enter public service and publicizing the activities of those already in the public service;
8.Promoting academic freedom by supporting individual faculty members’ freedom to teach and conduct research in a manner consistent with the highest standards of professional integrity and independence.
Article III - Means to attain the above objectives
NAPSIPAG shall strive to achieve its objectives through the conduct of a number of activities. The following is an indicative list:
Hold regional and sub-regional meetings whenever appropriate
Exchange staff within the region
Host staff from outside the region
Hold seminars for staff development
Establish relations with other regional networks
Create working groups to undertake specific research activities
Inform members via a newsletter
Have a publications program
Improve relations with external aid agencies
Develop a database of regional resources
Produce an electronic journal
Train researchers
Work on education/training/consultancy projects to enhance funding
Article IV - Membership
Classification of Membership
The Institutional Members of NAPSIPAG shall include:
1. schools and institutes which may be independent or under a larger educational institution and are located within the Asia-Pacific region that are offering courses leading to the following:
* graduate degree in governance, public administration, public management or public policy or related disciplines;
* undergraduate degree in governance, public administration, public management or public policy or related disciplines;
* diploma or certificate in governance, public administration, public management or public policy or related disciplines.
2. non-degree granting training/capacity-building institutions in the field of public administration.
Individual Members of NAPSIPAG of NAPSIPAG shall include public, private, professional or international institutions/agencies involved in teaching, research and training in the general field of public administration and related disciplines from non Asia-Pacific countries that are committed to the objectives of this organization as stated in Article II.
Individuals who have made important contribution to the field of public administration and who are deemed committed to promote the interest of the Network.
Member institutions may invite and recommend other institutions to become members of the Network as observers.
Eligibility for membership:
The Steering Committee shall decide whether an applicant (Institutional/Individual) is eligible to become a member of the Network. For applicants to become members of the Network, the basic requirements are as follows:
Individual members: * Should be employed in a public or private, autonomous or international organization on a regular (continuing) basis or a scholar retired from the above position.
* They should be an academic of high standard performance in research and publications in the Asia Pacific studies/a PhD in relevant area of administrative research/ a policy analyst with a research
organization/ a senior administrator with the government having leanings towards publication and research.
* Young researchers enrolled in PhD in various universities who have some record of publications and research contributions can become members without voting rights.
Membership Fee: * All countries developing/developed /transitional are required to pay US$ 750 (5 year membership) and US$ 1000 (10 year membership).
* Individual membership of US$ 300 (10 year membership).
* There is no provision for ‘Annual Membership’.
Cancellation or termination of membership may be done by a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly once a member is found to have acted contrary to the objectives of the Network.
Benefits of Members:
A Network member may avail of the following benefits:
* Participate in general assemblies, business meetings, conferences, seminar-workshops and other activities.
* Engage in research, training, consultancy and other projects which may be initiated by the Network.
* Acquire and at the same time disseminate new knowledge, technology, approaches and practices which may be developed by other member institutions.
* Contribute to NAPSIPAG publications.
* Receive complimentary copies of the Network’s publications.
* Discounted rates during conferences, seminar-workshops.
Rights of Institutional Members:
Each member institution shall have a single vote in the General Assembly. Each shall also have the right to be voted as a member of the Steering Committee. All members of the Network shall have the right to participate in all its activities as may be necessary and practicable.
Article V - Governance
NAPSIPAG has two organs of governance: the General Assembly and the Steering Committee.
The General AssemblyThe General Assembly is the general representative body of NAPSIPAG. It is constituted through a gathering of all members where a designated delegate represents each institution.
The General Assembly meets each year for the Annual Business Meeting which coincides with the Annual Conference.
The General Assembly exercises the following major powers:
1. Decides on the major policies, strategies and actions that provide overall direction to the Network;
2. Elects the members of the Steering Committee;
3. Promotes and strengthens collaboration and cooperation among the member institutions;
4. Approves the annual budget, work plan, accomplishment and financial reports;
5. Prescribes the membership fees and annual dues which the members have to contribute each year for the maintenance of the network;
6. Prescribes the membership fees and annual dues which the members have to contribute each year for the maintenance of the network;
7. Appoints an independent auditor that shall guard the accounts of the Network; and
8. Adopts its own rules and procedures.
All NAPSIPAG members shall have the right to be represented to the General Assembly where each shall be entitled to participate in the debate. However, only official, principal or alternate representatives of the member institutions shall have the right to vote.
The decisions of the General Assembly shall be adopted by a simple vote of the majority. There shall be a quorum of the General Assembly when at least one-third of the official, principal or alternate representatives of the member institutions are present. Without this number, however, those present at the meeting may constitute a quorum after a period of one full hour has lapsed.
The Network Secretariat shall provide assistance to the General Assembly.
The Annual General Body Meeting
The Annual General Body Meeting takes place as an important component of the Annual Conference. It is where the General Assembly convenes and all members of the Network are entitled to participate. The major decisions of the General Assembly including the election of officers are made during this meeting. All Advisors and members (Institutional , Individuals) can vote.
THE STEERING COMMITTEE
A 'SEVEN'-Member Steering Committee shall provide overall management to the Network.
‘Each member country shall be represented by not more than two members to the Steering Committee. These members would be elected by the total members of that country through a democratic election process every fifth year. The process followed and the outcomes of this election process would be submitted in writing by the Returning Officer deputed by the Secretariat, as a short report in 200-300 words to the Secretariat after the elections are concluded. These members would provide leadership and research directions to Specialized Research Committees to be headed by a Senior Steering Committee member’-suggested in the Colombo 2012 GBM , to be discussed further in the 2013 GBM).
Steering Committee would function under the overall supervision and coordination of a Chairperson to be elected by the Research Committees functioning under the Steering Committee Members before the Annual General Body Meeting. The tenure of the Chairperson would be 2 years so that change and innovative participation could continue to flow into the Steering Committee. The Chairperson would primarily be a Steering Committee member and an experienced Network participant.
The Chairpersons position should rotate amongst West Asia, South Asia, East Asia, Oceania and Island States to maintain a balanced focus of research , conference and training needs.
The Steering Committee may decide to appoint a Co-Chair to accelerate certain research , funding and project related demands. This appointment would be made keeping in mind the sustainable interest, strive for excellence in Public Administration research of the NAPSIPAG network. The Co-Chair may have all the rights and responsibilities of the Chairperson and would be expected to work in collaboration with the Chairperson.
A vote of the majority of the Steering Committee can remove the Chairperson from office. The Chairperson may designate a member of the Steering Committee to represent him/her in the fulfillment of official functions of the Network.
It shall perform the following responsibilities:
- To formulate and subsequently recommend to the General Assembly, major policies, strategies and actions that provide overall direction to the network;
- To implement the decisions taken by the General Assembly;
- To formulate the annual budget and annual work plan for presentation to and approval of the General Assembly;
- To prepare the annual accomplishment and financial reports for presentation to and approval of the General Assembly;
- To create ad-hoc committee/s that will enable the Network to respond to emerging situations;
- To nominate new Steering Committee members;
- To negotiate for and in behalf of the Network in entering into contracts and agreements and in accepting grants and donations in pursuit of its objectives;
- To recommend to the General Assembly the amount of annual dues and membership fees to be contributed by the members;
- To decide where the Network Secretariat will be based;
- To perform other duties and functions that may be required by the General Assembly.
- To approve new members.
The Seven Members of the Steering Committee shall be elected at large by a simple majority of the General Assembly during the Annual "Beneral Body" Meeting. They shall serve as members of the Committee for a Five-year term and may be re-elected only once. Election shall be by secret balloting.
Member institutions can only have one representative to the Steering Committee at a time. The Steering Committee shall not include more than one member from the same country.
All Institutional Members of the General Assembly (i.e., official, principal or alternate representatives of the member institutions) are eligible for nomination. The current and outgoing members of the Committee and the member institutions may make nominations. Nominees may also come from the floor during the Annual Business Meeting. Nominees may not be present at the time of election, but they must submit in writing, their willingness to serve in case they are elected.
Election of the seven members of the Committee shall take place every fifth year. In case of mid term vacancy on the departure or resignation of a member , the issue is brought up to the General Assembly which may discuss and ratify the decision of the Steering Committee for co-opting new members for the remaining period only.
The Steering Committee shall meet at least once a year. Its meeting should coincide with the Annual Conference and should take place before the General Assembly meeting. The Chairperson who shall be the head of the Committee upon consultation with the members or at the request of the majority of the members themselves may call special meetings. Such may be held at the time and place most practicable to the Network.
In case of an institutional vacancy (other than the defaulter), a new member of the Committee may be co-opted for the remaining tenure till the next meeting of the General Assembly.
The members of the Steering Committee receive no compensation except for reimbursement of reasonable expenses.
Chairperson:
This post has been abolished at the GBM Colombo Meeting held on 14th Dec.2012.
A Chairperson who shall be elected by the members from among themselves shall head the Steering Committee. The Chairperson shall be responsible for the overall leadership and direction of the Network. His/her term shall also be five years renewable ( 2011, Kathmandu Amendment)only for another term. The term of the Chairperson starts at the end of the Annual General Body Meeting wherein s/he is elected and end sat the close of the same, five years thereafter.
The steering Committee may decide to appoint a Co-Chair to accelerate certain research , funding and project related demands. This appointment would be made keeping in mind the sustainable interest, strive for excellence in Public Administration research of the NAPSIPAG network. The Co-Chair may have all the rights and responsibilities of the Chairperson and would be expected to work in collaboration with the Chairperson.
A vote of the majority of the Steering Committee can remove the Chairperson from office.
The Chairperson may designate a member of the Steering Committee to represent him/her in the fulfillment of official functions of the Network.
Article VI - The Network Secretariat
The Secretariat shall provide stability and continuity to the Network. Secretariat has a tenure of ten years in one country. During this period it would draw local experts, neighbouring linkages and research publications in public policy issues, connect to the public sector institutions and involve the regional scholars in training and capacity building in governance research. The Secretary General continues for the period of the tenure of the Secretariat as an ex-officio with full voting rights.
It shall be responsible to the Steering Committee and to the General Assembly in carrying out the following functions:
1. Coordinate the conduct of the Network’s activities such as conferences, general assemblies, business meetings, special meetings, election of officers, among others;
2. Prepare the annual budget and annual action plan for presentation to the Steering Committee and for approval of the General Assembly;
3. Prepare the annual accomplishment and financial reports for presentation to the Steering Committee and for approval of the General Assembly;
4. Building of members’ database;
5. Institutional maintenance of the network (management of membership fees and budget, maintenance of records, etc.);
6. Disseminate information through an organized correspondence system;
7. Prepare publications, circulars, newsletters, reports;
8. Enlist new members of the network;
9. Establish and maintain linkages/cooperation with other institutions;
10. Advise the Steering Committee where appropriate, in the preparation of the Networks’ activities;
11. To raise funds for the Network from contracts, grants and donations; and
12. Perform other functions and duties that may be required by the Steering Committee and the General Assembly in the pursuit of the Network’s objectives.
13. Maintain electronic communications (e.g., listservs, websites, electronics discussion forums)
There shall be established an office of the Network Secretariat, the location of which shall be decided by the Steering Committee.
THE SECRETARY GENERAL
The Secretary General heads the Network Secretariat. S/he shall be the Network’s legal representative and shall be responsible to the General Assembly and to the Steering Committee for the operation and fulfillment of obligations and functions of the Network. As the Network’s legal representative, theSecretary General may, upon request, represent the Steering Committee and its Chairperson in the performance of functions.
The Steering Committee appoints the Secretary General for a Ten-year term which is renewable. In case the position becomes vacant, the Steering Committee may appoint an Interim Secretary General until a regular appointment is made.
The Secretary General or his/her representative may participate in all the meetings of the Network but has no capacity to vote. S/he shall be responsible to bring to the attention of the Steering Committee or the General Assembly matters that are of immediate concern and importance to the Network.
Article VII – Finances
The Network sources its funds from the following:
1. Institutional Members’ dues
2. Grants
3. Donations
4. Proceeds from the sale of publications and subscription fees;
5. Income from other sources (e.g. conference registration fees, payments for services rendered, earnings from investments) All finances would be processed through the bank account of the host institution/ university / government department.
It shall be the duty of the Secretary General to submit the Network’s statement of income and expenditures to the Steering Committee for purposes of transparency and accountability. The Institutional Auditor’s Report is submitted to the General Assembly.
The Steering Committee shall reserve the right to examine all grants, donations, fees, contracts that will accrue to the Network. No officer or member can enter into any debt or obligation under the name of the Network.
Article IX - Disciplinary Action
Any member institution exhibiting conduct or action which proves contrary to what the Network subscribes to shall be liable for disciplinary action by a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly. Disciplinary action may mean suspension or revocation of membership.
Article X - Resignation
Any member institution may withdraw its membership from the Network by notifying the Steering Committee in writing and upon the settlement of all outstanding obligations.
Article XI – Amendments
Amendments to this document can only be made by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Steering Committee or upon the proposal of the majority of the member institutions. A two-thirds vote of the General Assembly is needed for amendments to take place. Amendments may either be circulated in advance or maybe raised during the General Assembly.
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Mission & Objectives